Children’s Use of Technology in the Home and in ECCE Settings
Marlene McCormack, Head of KnowledgeMaja Haals Brosnan, Research Officer
Does ICT have a place in ECCE settings?
Parents Educators
ParticipantsOnline Survey
248 Parents & 172 Educators
Mothers89%
Fathers8%
Grandparents2%
Carers1%
Context
Children of all ages are increasingly exposed to and becoming adept atusing a variety of different technology and media. According to anongoing study on digital childhoods, 81% of Irish children are now onlinewith “with notable trends towards individualised, privatised and mobileforms of access to the internet”. 82% of teenagers and 35% of 9-12 yearolds also have a social networking profile. In addition, Irish children spendat least one hour per day online and 75% of 15-16 year olds use theinternet everyday (EU Kids Online, 2011). Very little, however, is knownabout very young children’s use of and engagement with technology andmedia. Yet with the prevalence of older children’s use of technology it isimportant to understand how ICT and media influence younger children’severyday lives, development and education.
Aim
At Early Childhood Ireland we are interested in understanding the trendsof children’s use of technology in early childhood care and education(ECCE) settings. In particular, we are interested in whether and how ECCEsettings use ICT and media for educational purposes as well as forentertainment and communication purposes. With schools increasinglyusing ICT as part of their teaching but with research showing that Irelandis lacking behind its European neighbours in developing critical medialiteracy it is important to understand how ICT and media are used indifferent educational settings, including early childhood education, whichincreasing numbers of children are attending.
Does ICT have a place in ECCE?
Parents Educators
Parents’ Thoughts on ICT for Young ChildrenPriorities for Their Children
Parents’ Thoughts on ICT for Young Children ICT Uses in the Home
1. 2.
5.4.
3.
Parents’ Thoughts on ICT for Young Children Challenges and Worries
Parents on ICT Use in ECCE Settings
The majority of parents identify the ages 3-4 as the earliest
age at which children
benefit from ICT
Parents worry about too
much screen time /
addiction to ICT
Most parents consider ITC
skills necessary for children but not in
early childhood
Parents want children to
learn through play, not ICT, and want ICT
to be used only as a
learning tool, not
‘babysitting’
80% of parents think
ICT should only be used
for very specific
activities in ECCE
settings
Educators’ Views on ICT for Young Children
No place in ECCE
Useful learning tool
Educators’ Views on ICT for Young Children
No place in ECCE
• “Blocks and water play offer all the technology they require at age 3”• “Let them play…”• “ICT has no importance in preparing the child for school”• “Children can benefit from ICT but need exposure to non-ICT items first to
help them develop their imagination• “ICT allows for sedentary behaviour”• “Limits creativity”• “The more technology the worse social skills”
• Children overexposed at home• Solitary• Replaces interaction• Inhibits development• Some fears that ICT worsening/causing ADHD and behavioural issues
Educators’ Views on ICT for Young Children
Useful learning tool
• “It is the way forward so it should be allowed…”• “It is a world of technology so children should become
familiar as early as possible”• “Need to acknowledge children’s interest and not create
forbidden fruit”• “Useful to bridge app gap”
• Easier to monitor and use educationally in ECCE settings compared to at home
• Should be used to complement curriculum, learning, particular themes and other work
• Means to an end, not an end in itself• Should be set up in such a way that children collaborate
on projects• Needs to be planned and have thought going into it
Current Use of ICT in ECCE Settings
Provide or would like to provide ICT
66.00%
Do not provide34.00%
Current Use of ICT in ECCE Settings
No place in ECCE
Overexposure at home
Lack of resources
Provide or would like to provide ICT
66.00%
Do not provide34.00%
Current Use of ICT in ECCE Settings
Provide or would like to provide ICT
66.00%
Do not provide34.00%
Current Use of ICT in ECCE Settings
Provide or would like to provide ICT
66.00%
Do not provide34.00%
Educators’ ICT Confidence
ICT Learning Tool Examples
Music and Movement
GeographyCultural AwarenessCitizenship
Communication
• Laptops/PCs
• Tablets
• Digital cameras / video camera
• Interactive whiteboards
• Touch screen toys
• Guidelines from DES (similar to those for primary schools)
• Training
• Additional funds / resources
For Educators
Implications• Parents and educators think children are over-
exposed to ICT and call for balance
• The majority of parents’ worries primarily concern ICT behaviour associated with older children:
• Online Safety
• Cyber Bullying
• Contents of video games
• Screen time (easier to limit for young children)
• Many of the parents’ concerns are easily addressedin ECCE settings:
• ICT as learning tool NOT virtual babysitter
• Monitor programme contents
• Supervise use
• Optimise use to enhance development
• Planned and purposeful use
• Ensure balance
Recommendations
Children’s use of ICT needs to be supervised and controlled
ICT in ECCE settings has to be integrated with / contribute to the curriculum
ECCE settings need to collaborate with parents in use of ICT
Educators need sufficient training and resource to optimise use of ICT
ICT primarily appropriate in pre-school rooms, NOT in baby/wobbler rooms
Next Steps
• ICT and children with additional needs
• Further research into how ICT can be optimised for ECCE settings
• Design of training and resource portfolio
• Case studies of ECCE settings with positive experiences of ICT use with children